Question

Identify the winds that would create bigger waves.

1) winds striking larger areas
2) greater wind speeds
3) winds striking narrower areas
4) slower wind speeds

Answer 1

Greater wind speeds and winds blowing over larger surface areas lead to the creation of larger waves, as they transfer more energy from the wind to the water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Waves reach substantial heights due to the transfer of energy from the wind to the surface of the water. Greater wind speeds and winds blowing over larger surface areas are primarily responsible for creating bigger waves. When intense storms produce fast and long-lasting winds over expansive stretches of ocean, they generate massive waves that carry energy away from the storm's origin.

In line with this understanding, storm reports often reveal the importance of wind velocity and barometric pressure differences in the development and strength of storms, leading to substantial wind currents that affect wave formation. Considering the cube power scaling of wind velocity's destructive force, it's evident that higher wind velocity makes for more potent and potentially damaging waves.